Deerfield Beach bank robbery suspect nabbed in Tennessee

The FBI is searching for the man who robbed a Bank Atlantic branch in Deerfield… (FBI, courtesy )

April 20, 2012|By Erika Pesantes, Sun Sentinel

A robbery suspect was nabbed in Tennessee two days after bragging about holding up a Bank Atlantic branch in Deerfield Beach, the FBI reported Friday.

According to a federal criminal complaint, James W. Gray, reportedly of Pompano Beach, targeted the bank at 1299 S. Military Trail and fled with about $2,845 in cash Wednesday.

He was arrested in Tennessee without incident and faces federal charges, the FBI said.

According to the complaint, Gray approached the teller and handed her a note that stated: "Give me $7,500. You have exactly 20 seconds, if you don't want to die."

Gray then lifted his shirt to show a firearm tucked into his waistband, according to the complaint, and nervously waited for the teller to hand over the money.

After snatching the cash from the counter, he fled on foot. Employees at a nearby business spotted Gray running across a field and into his getaway car, a silver 1994 Buick, the FBI said.

On Thursday, a tipster identified the suspect as Gray, who had moved to Tennessee about a year ago but had returned to Florida, the FBI said.

A second tipster told federal agents that employees of the business he managed said Gray had previously worked there. The third caller told the FBI that Gray was living in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., and bragged about the robbery.

Mt. Juliet police established surveillance at a home where Gray was thought to be staying, and the car parked there matched the description of the silver Buick he allegedly fled in, the complaint said.

Gray also appeared to be the same person as in surveillance photographs taken during the bank robbery. He confessed to the crime after his arrest Thursday, the FBI said.

Upon his arrest, Gray had $1,110 in cash and a shirt identical to the one worn during the alleged robbery.